Tony Saunders continues turnaround work in Conway MacKenzie role

20 in their 20s revisited

Since 2006, Crain's has gathered 20 of the community's emerging leaders for a special salute.
• 20 in their 20s Class of 2014: In print May 5
• Join the conversation on Twitter: #cdb20s
• Past 20s winners: Read our special section online.

As Crain’s Detroit Business approaches the May 5 unveiling of the 20 in their 20s Class of 2014, we catch up with some of the previous award recipients.

Then: Tony Saunders was 25 and chief of staff for Detroit City Council member Saunteel Jenkins.

Now: Saunders is 28 and works as a director at Birmingham-based Conway MacKenzie Inc.

What has happened since you were honored as a 20 in their 20s? “After I left Saunteel Jenkins’ office, I was asked by the state to help out in an adviser role to the Michigan Department of Treasury in Highland Park. My job was to work with the elected officials to keep the city from running out of money.

“I was in that position for 11 months, and then I was asked to be the emergency manager for Benton Harbor, where I spent 14 months. Then about two months ago, I accepted this position with Conway MacKenzie to do public/private turnaround work.”

What's next? “Continue to work at Conway MacKenzie to assist in the expansion of their municipality turnaround sector, which works with municipalities in distress, and working with the Detroit Public Schools to help them out.”

Advice to the new 20 in their 20s class? “Enjoy the moment. So much has happened in my life in the last three years, from job opportunities to having my first child, and I feel like I didn’t appreciate the honor and the opportunities it gave me at the time.”